One of the most precious things to see in life is the birth of a newborn animal--in this case, a baby calf. The act of a calf being born is called calving, and is a time (referred to as calving season) that heralds the presence of new life on a farm or ranch. Observing the birth of a calf, for a cattle producer, is an act that involves not just enjoying the coming of a new addition, but to watch and see if a calving cow is having any troubles. For the individual that doesn't own a farm or ranch or is involved in the operations of a cattle farm/ranch, or even is a beginner farmer, the proper way to observe a cow giving birth follows below.

Steps

1

See if there is a cow that is ready to calve. You can tell if she's really close to dropping a calf on the ground if there's a water sac hanging down or a couple of hooves sticking out from her vulva. More information on how to tell if a cow is ready to give birth can be seen in the article How to Tell if a Cow is About to Give Birth.

2

Find an inconspicuous spot where you can watch the cow. She will usually go off by herself to give birth, so it's best to find a spot where you can watch her where she either won't see you, or you're far enough away that you're not disturbing her. Be aware that you can never be in an area where she doesn't know you're there, because she will know, but will be too busy with the delivery of a new calf to bother with you.

If you are watching a cow calve in a barn, this still applies as a cow usually won't calve on her own if there are people actively watching or disturbing her. It's just like with a woman giving birth--she certainly wouldn't appreciate it if she were giving birth to a baby with a bunch of onlookers gawking at her or disturbing her in some way.

3

Find a comfortable place to sit, or bring a lawn chair. Calving doesn't take a few seconds, it can take anywhere from around 30 minutes to several hours, so having a place to sit and relax while you wait is better than being sore from standing or squatting the whole time.

4

Wait and watch. Cows have their own time to keep, and will never go by your time, so you will need to be patient, very quiet, and ever watchful.

5

Take pictures or video, if necessary. It's always neat to see the pictures or video of a cow giving birth and sharing it with others, or reviewing it yourself.

6

Once the cow is finished and the calf is on the ground, leave them alone. As mentioned above, she will know that you're there, and there's a chance that she may not mother up to the calf right away as needed if you disturb her, even if you think you are not.

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Tips

Make sure you have the producer's consent to view the calving cow, particularly if you're someone who is merely wanting to experience the joy of a new birth and not a beginning cattle producer yourself.

Be patient. A cow giving birth will take her time; she's on her own time, not yours, so you will need to set aside plenty of time (as in, have no other timely plans for the day) to watch the event.

Be quiet, as quiet as you can. This means no talking, no moving around a lot or fidgeting, etc.

Don't be fooled by the amount and colour of the liquid that is coming out of her vulva as she calves. Most people who have never seen a cow give birth before think this is blood, but this is not the case. It is simply amniotic fluid, fluid which is naturally found in the womb of a pregnant mammal like a cow, which provides cushioning and leverage for the fetus to be protected from the movements and bumps to the mother's belly and for her to move around in.

An "inconspicuous spot" to watch a cow calve may be behind some brush, behind a fence in some tall grass, or in a grove of trees. In a barn, it would be behind the fence or at a corner of the corral the cow is being held in, or from a corral or two over. If the barn has been installed with cameras, you can even watch the action on camera, but only if you have the producer's permission to do so.